Phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) activity and catecholamine content in chromaffin tissue and sympathetic neurons in the cod, Gadus morhua.

The activity of phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) has been measured in the chromaffin tissue of the head kidney and in the sympathetic neurons of the coeliac ganglion/splanchnic nerve in the cod. The content of adrenaline and noradrenaline in these tissues and in other adrenergically innervated tissues and blood plasma was also determined. Adrenaline dominates over noradrenaline in most sympathetically innervated tissues, in the chromaffin tissue and in blood plasma, but not in the muscularis mucosae of the swimbladder. High PNMT activity was found in the chromaffin tissue in the walls of the posterior cardinal veins, and also in sympathetic neurons. It is concluded that the adrenaline found in the sympathetic nerves may originate from intraneuronal adrenaline synthesis, but also from circulating adrenaline which is taken up and stored.